Are Ec-130 B4's Under Powered?

[EC-130]

I was speaking with a pilot about EC-130's a little while ago, and he said that he was under the impression that they were underpowered (he had never flown one but I believe he said he knew people who had.) I had always assumed that even though they were heavier than the B3, they still weren't under powered because of how powerful the Arriel 2B1 is. Can anyone tell me if this is true or not?

[Billy Hill]

This summer we needed some fuel moved out to a remote staging setup for us. The distance was approx. 65 NM and he needed to return with out using any of the fuel brought out. the temp was right around +20 C and the Alt was only 500 feet. The B4 took on 75% - 80% fuel, pilot weighed about 175 lbs. The B4 grabbed 5 drums (2000 lbs) and walked away with the load no problem! The next trip he made for us he decided to take 6 drums, still no problem! :punk:

 

For moving tourists and VIP's around its definitely not underpowered, and even for longlining in the bush I would have to say it still gives you a pretty good bang for youre buck! Too bad there is no vertical reference window able to be installed though...

[EC-130]

Thanks, that's great to know. You'd think that with all the concern given to making that bird have great visibility, they would have made a vertical referance window as an option. Oh well, maybe someone will make one as a mod...

[dimit]

EC-130

All us light/intermediate drivers know that size and raw power isn't everything. It's amazing what a light touch on the controls can do!

 

Season's best,

 

DM

[Rotorhead]

It doesn't matter how much horsepower they put behind the main gearbox of any aircraft, someone will think it is underpowered (then complain that it burns too much fuel when the manufacturer brings out the more powerful next model).

 

That type of person would be someone like a geologist who, for every fifty pounds of fuel burned off will always load seventy five pounds of rock core.

 

RH

[TwistedSpar]

^+10....what he said

[koalaa119]

Or the drillers that complain that the a/c isn't performing when it is doing better than the performance Charts say in the Flight manual. But hey, who cares what the gross weight of the a/c is just lift it anyways. You can do it the last guy did!

[212wrench]

If you could make a 212 lift 20,000lbs they would want to lift 21,000 and complain that its underpowered. It is what it is.

[Guest Jerry]

Hmmm, I think I've heard this conversation somewhere before.

 

I couldn't lift enough with my Bell 47, or my 500C, or D, for that matter.

 

Or my 204, 205, 206, 212, 212HP, or 214ST, or my 55T, 58T, 61 or 76.

 

Even a 61 in the Arctic at -40C and 40 knots of wind still couldn't lift enough.

 

By jove, I think 212wrench may have got it exactly right - it is what it is.

 

Don't let your customers (diplomatically, of course) push you.

 

Good managers will support your decision.